So it’s exam season again and we have just entered the last 6 weeks of the summer term of school, where has this year gone! It seems only a few months ago when we were back in year 11 just about to start our final GCSE exams. I specifically remember us all fretting (well at least I was) over how hard we thought the exams were going to be, looking back on it now they were so easy compared to A-level exams. They say the jump is the biggest you will ever make, they’re right! So with 5 exams sat totalling 8.5 hours so far, I only have another 1.5 hours to go before I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the good old british weather (at least while it lasts).
As all us Apple fans know, a huge announcement was made by Apple yesterday at WWDC. Apple introduced us to the brand new iPhone with an all new design, Steve calls it the iPhone 4. The new iPhone brings some amazing new features, such as:
FaceTime (AKA Video Calling) – At the moment it’s going to be only made available over a wifi connection (in the US, don’t know about the UK).
5 megapixel camera – New camera capable of recording 720p HD video at 30FPS.
iMovie app – Pretty self explanatory. It’s the iPhone equivalent of the desktop application of the same name.
Brand New Design – The new design consists of stainless steal edges to the phone which double as antennas and a glass front and back.
24% thinner than the current iPhone.
Retina display – a display that has 4x the pixel density for the same area. The pixel density is so high the human eye cannot distinguish between the pixels like it can on other displays.
The new iPhone starts to ship on June 24th, thats in 2 weeks time, pre-order will be available from next tuesday. Hopefully the phone will come out on pay as you go at launch because I am not willing to enter into another long contract when I am happy on my O2 iPhone simplicity tariff. So lets keep our fingers tightly crossed for some good news closer to next tuesday. If all goes to plan you can expect some sort of review/post on the iPhone 4 hands on in a few weeks time.
Other Updates I am currently in the process of writing my review for the iPad 16GB 3G model which I expect to publish sometime in the next couple of weeks.
It’s coming up to the end of the easter holidays. Having had lots of time to sleep, revise, and enjoy the weather, I have come out of the holiday somewhat refreshed and surprisingly ready to go back to college.
I have a really busy next week, here is a list starting from sunday:
Sunday – Volunteering at the hospital and then work.
Monday – College then work
Tuesday – College (english coursework deadline) then work
Wednesday – Imperial College Open Day
Thursday – College then some relaxation in between homework and perhaps a driving lesson.
Friday – Driving Test (fingers crossed that ill pass)
Saturday – Some relaxation
To top things off, I have a very long to-do list to complete with revision tasks and homework:
Well it’s that time of year again, the time of year when you are about half way trough the school year and coursework deadlines are looming… Again!
So I have my easter holidays planned, I will be typing my English Coursework essays ready for a coursework session in the second week of the holidays and revising for the exams I have in May/June. I have 750 words commentary to write on a piece I have wrote based on The Picture of Dorian Grey, plus I have 1500 words to write on Jayne Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. Not only do I have coursework to write, I also have 6 exams to revise for. So at this point it looks as if i will have no easter holiday!
It’s finally half-term after 6 weeks that seemed like 6 months but the work doesn’t stop in the holidays, I still have a list of things to work trough before I can sit back and have a proper break! Heres a little task list:
Finish reading Picture of Dorian Gray
Plan for English Coursework on Dorian Gray
Start English coursework on Dorian Gray
Psychology Homework
Biology revision/notes on 10 pages
Read more of Jayne Eyre
Chemistry notes
After all of that I can relax but that’s in-between going to work and sleeping of course!
This evening I went to collect my Services to Community award from the parish council meeting. Below is the article that has been posted on the academy’s website:
On Wednesday 27th January Jonathan, a Sixth Form Student at Park Hall Academy was invited to the full Castle Bromwich Parish Council Meeting to be presented with the Castle Bromwich Parish Council Services to Community Award. Jonathan was accompanied by Mr Tony Morrison, Principal of Park Hall Academy.
The award was presented by the Chair of Castle Bromwich Parish Council, Councillor John Reardon. Jonathan was given a beautiful trophy to remember the event and a gift voucher. Jonathan was then asked to give a brief talk to the Council on his involvement in the Park Hall and the wider community. Jonathan explained that he has served on the Academy Student Council since Year 7 and that he had taken part in the Building Schools for The Future project. He had completed visits to Birmingham to look at the architecture of the city with Andrew Siddell, presented workshops to groups of 60 students, spoken and delivered a power point presentation to members of the local community on the new Park Hall. He was also involved in the interview process for the Director of Children’s Services and Quality, for the new Principal Mr Morrison and for numerous other appointments. Jonathan also took a lead role in helping to organise the Park Hall Garden Party and delivering Christmas Cards to local residents.
In 2009 Jonathan completed a period of work placement at Heartlands Hospital which he enjoyed immensely. As a result of the placement experience Jonathan is now a volunteer at the Heartlands Hospital on Sundays. He described his work as involving talking to patients, making cups of tea and following the doctors around! He now hopes to go to university in October 2011 to study Medicine, a career which we are sure he has much to offer.
Everyone had a really lovely evening and we would like to thank the Castle Bromwich Parish Council for supporting Park Hall Academy and celebrating the achievements of young people like Jonathan in such a positive way. It was a proud moment for Jonathan’s parents to join in the celebration evening.
Had my Biology exam earlier today, I think it went well! There were only a couple of questions that I was baffled by but apart from that it was alright, I’ve just got to hope that I have done as well as I think I did and get the grade in march. Roll on next week when I can forget about exams and get back into the swing of things and start the new topics!
Psychology exam tomorrow, which I need to do some more revision for after work.
Thought I would post and detail how my busy week is going and its only monday. As some of you may know there has been lots of panic over weather AS-Level, A-Level and GCSE exams are going to be able to go ahead because of the severe weather conditions we have been experiencing in the UK over the past couple of weeks. I am now well informed, since exams have already started at my school that my Biology, Chemistry and Psychology exams will be taking place next week.
I’ll be really glad when all these exams are over so I can get back into learning the stuff for the next modules and exams in May/June. I also have english coursework that needs to be in for April, may sound a while away but what I have to do and the amount I have to write makes it a really short amount of time.
Right, 15 more minutes of revision before I go off to work! I tried to get the night off but I’m the only one in on the department so I failed, just means I have to work extra hard and drink extra coffee tonight to keep me awake!
Broke up from school today for my well deserved christmas holiday. Just got to hope for this white christmas which will make my holiday, I don’t think I can remember the last time there was a white christmas!
So, two whole weeks to do whatever I want… nope, I have revision to do for the 3 exams In january:
As you can see I have my three massive subject folders out on my bed, trying to collate everything together before revision commences on Monday morning!
Hopefully it’s not going to be all revision and bore over my christmas break! I have seen this film advertised that I want to go and see:
Right, thats just about it for now! I’m looking forward to my Christmas dinner next friday and seeing what presents I am going to get, considering I have not asked for anything!
The new iPhone brings some amazing new features, such as:
